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Karleton Thomas

Director of entrepreneurship | Urban League of D.C. | Class of 2001

You won’t find Karleton Thomas’ top spot on any official map of campus.

But ask any Illini athlete about ‘the row,’ and they’ll know exactly what you’re talking about.

“It’s a slab of concrete that sits between Lincoln Hall and the English Building,” says Thomas, a former Illini wide receiver, now director of entrepreneurship for the Urban League of Washington, D.C.

“It’s where, as athletes, we would sit in between classes — and sometimes skip classes — to chat, laugh and get mentally ready for the grueling practice ahead. Any combination of players would be out there, which is what always made it fun.”